Oregon schools budget cuts to result in layoffs, reduced hours

12/9/2010

Ten Oregon City Schools custodians will be laid off and 21 bus drivers will have their hours reduced as of Jan. 1 as a result of the school district's latest budget reductions, board members agreed Thursday.

Board members previously approved cost-cutting changes that include eliminating high school busing and cleaning schools every other day starting Jan. 1, saving Oregon City Schools $448,092 this school year.

For next school year, Wynn Elementary will be closed, affecting 12 support staff, and the district will eliminate seven teaching positions. The district also will increase athletic participation fees for next school year, part of a total of $2.4 million in annual savings.

District officials had warned residents they would have to make $2 million worth of cuts for next school year if a 5.9-mill emergency levy on the Nov. 2 ballot did not pass. Eliminating 20 more teaching and staff positions, closing an elementary school, and at least reducing high school bus service was among possible cutbacks.

The district in the last three years already has chopped more than $7 million from its annual operating budget.